Many players reach a point in Alchemy Factory where machines are built, recipes are correct, and resources appear available — yet the factory still does not run as expected.
Production stalls, outputs are inconsistent, or entire lines stop working without an obvious error. This page explains why factories fail, not from a bug perspective, but from a system and gameplay logic perspective.
Factory Problems Are Usually Systemic
In Alchemy Factory, production failures are rarely caused by a single broken machine.
Instead, most issues come from:
- Missing system prerequisites
- Unbalanced production flow
- Hidden dependencies between items, fuel, and processing speed
Understanding why something is not working is more important than rebuilding it again.
Quick Diagnosis: Where Is Your Factory Stuck?
If your factory is not working, you do not need to diagnose everything at once.
Start with the symptom that best matches your situation:
❌ Machines Are Built but Not Running
- Likely missing or unstable fuel
→ Go to Fuel Items in Alchemy Factory
❌ Production Starts Then Stops Randomly
- Often caused by fertilizer or herb shortages
→ Go to Fertilizer Items
→ Also check Herb Items
❌ Items Are Not Moving or Backing Up
- Usually a flow or throughput issue
→ Go to Liquid Items
→ Review Production System
❌ Factory Worked Before Expansion, Now Broken
- Common blueprint scaling problem
→ Go to Blueprint System
→ See Early-Game Blueprints
This quick check solves most early- and mid-game factory issues without rebuilding anything.
Most Common Reasons a Factory Stops Working
1. Input Exists, But Flow Does Not
Having materials stored nearby does not guarantee production.
Common flow issues include:
- Belts connected in the wrong direction
- Multiple outputs competing for the same input
- Items backing up because downstream machines are slower
Factories require continuous flow, not just available stock.
2. Fuel Is Missing or Inconsistent
Many machines require fuel to operate.
Problems often occur when:
- Fuel is not delivered automatically
- Fuel runs out mid-production
- Different machines require different fuel types
A factory may appear complete but will never start without stable fuel input.
→ See: Fuel Items in Alchemy Factory
3. Fertilizer Bottlenecks Plant-Based Production
Plant and herb production systems depend heavily on fertilizer.
Common fertilizer-related issues:
- Fertilizer production is too slow
- Fertilizer is consumed faster than it is produced
- Fertilizer is not routed to nurseries correctly
Without fertilizer, many downstream systems silently fail.
→ See: Fertilizer Items in Alchemy Factory
4. Production Speed Is Mismatched
Early factories often mix machines with different processing speeds.
This causes:
- Input accumulation in one section
- Starvation in another
- Output lines that never fully stabilize
Balanced throughput matters more than raw machine count.
5. Blueprint Reuse Without Supply Scaling
Blueprints make expansion easier — but copying layouts without increasing supply causes failure.
Typical mistakes:
- Duplicating a production block without doubling inputs
- Reusing blueprints before understanding resource limits
- Scaling layout size instead of resource flow
Blueprints preserve structure, not resources.
Why Rebuilding Often Makes Things Worse
When a factory fails, many players respond by rebuilding everything.
This often:
- Resets partial working systems
- Introduces new routing errors
- Hides the original bottleneck
A better approach is to trace one resource line at a time:
- Input source
- Processing machine
- Output destination
Factories fail gradually, not instantly.
A Simple Diagnostic Checklist
If your factory is not working, check in this order:
- Is fuel present and stable?
- Are inputs actually reaching the machine?
- Is output blocked or backing up?
- Are production speeds compatible?
- Does fertilizer or plant supply limit the chain?
Most issues are found before step 4.
How This Page Fits Into Progression
Factory failures become more common as systems grow.
This page is most relevant when:
- Transitioning from manual to automated production
- Introducing fertilizer and plant systems
- Expanding using blueprints for the first time
It acts as a troubleshooting layer between Items, Recipes, and Blueprints.
What to Read Next
If your factory is failing, these pages usually reveal the cause:
- Fuel Items — powering machines correctly
- Fertilizer Items — stabilizing plant production
- Blueprint System — expanding without breaking flow
Understanding systems prevents repeated failure.
Final Notes
Factories in Alchemy Factory do not fail randomly.
They fail because systems are incomplete, unbalanced, or misunderstood.
Once you learn to diagnose flow, fuel, and dependencies, most production problems become predictable — and fixable.